Steam-trap.



W. 0. WHEELER.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1908.

950,787. E Patented. Mar.1,1910.

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WALTER 0. WHEELER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-TRAP.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 26, 1908.

Patented Mar. 1, 1919. Serial No. 450,297.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER 0. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at orcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Traps, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, in Which- Figure 1 represents a central sectional view of a steam trap embodying my present invention, and Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of a modified form of a steam trap embodying my invention.

Similar reference figures refer parts in the different views.

My invention relates to a steam trap adapted to be used in connection with a heating radiator in a heating system, which comprlses a difference in pressure upon opposite sides of the trap, convenientlyproduced in heating systems of this class by instituting a partial vacuum upon one side of the steam trap, and the object of my invention is to simplify the construction, reduce the cost of devices of this class, and also to enable the separable parts of the trap to be employed as a union, and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts to similar as hereinafter described and pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows a form of construction adapted to be used when the connected pipes are placed in a horizontal plane, and Fig. 2 represents a trap embodying the same principle of operation, but adapted to be used with the connected pipes in a vertical position.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 and 2 denote the two separable parts of my improved steam trap, each consisting of a cylindrical shell or case having preferably a beveled joint 3. The part 1 is provided with an external screw thread 4 to receive an internally screw threaded ring 5, having at one end a flange 6, which overlaps the separable member 2 and serves to draw the beveled joint 3 closely together, after the manner of the ordinary and well known union The parts 1 and 2 are provided with internal screw threads 7 and 8 to receive the ends of screw threaded pipes, which in the present instance are arranged in a horizontal plane. The cylinder shell 1 contains a chamber 9 inclosed by the walls of the shell, and a diametrical plate 10 integral therewith and extending entirely across the open end of-the shell 1 with the exception of a small space 11, which forms a communication between the chamber 9 and the chamber 12.

The trap is applied to a radiator in a horizontal position to receive steam therefrom in the direction of the arrow 13, and to deliver steam in the direction of the arrow 14. A partial vacuum is maintained, by means of a pump or otherwise, in the chamber 12 and, when the system is in operation, steam passes into the trap from the radiator in the direction of the arrow 13 into the chamber 9 and passes through the open space 11 into the chamber 12, from which it is delivered in the direction of the arrow 14:. This movement of steam through the trap continues until the water of condensation ac cumulates in the bottom of the chambers 9 and 12, as represented at 15, sutficiently to seal the lower edge of the partition 10 and prevent'the passage of steam through the space 11. The plate 10 is provided with an enlargement as at 16, which contains a vent passage 17 having its lower end '18 opening into the chamber 9 and its upper end 19 opening into the chamber 12. When the water of condensation closes the passage 11, the vent passage 17 maintains a communication between the two sides of the partition 10 until the water has accumulated sufficiently to close the lower end 18 of the vent passage, when the difference in pressure between the two chambers 9 and 12 causes the accumulated body of water to be partially forced out in the direction of the ar' row 14. When the lower end 18 of the vent is again open, equalizing the pressure on opposite sides of the partition 10, it allows the water to seek its level still maintaining a water seal of the passage 11 until the con tinued accumulation of water the lower end 18 of the vent 17, when a portion of the water Will be again forced out of the trap in the direction of the arrow 14. I thereby produce a clearance in the trap of a portion of the water of condensation by an again closes intermittent action, taking place whenever the lower end 18 of the vent passage is closed. V

In Fig.2 I have shown a construction adapted to be used with the pipes in a vertical position. In Fig. 2, the cylindrical shells 20 and 21 inclose chambers 22 and 23, separated by a partition 24: containing a vent passage 25, having its lower end 26 opening into the chamber 23, and its upper end 27 opening into the chamber 22. The partition 2 1 is provided with a depending flange 28 extending downward into the chamber 23, and the communication between the chamber 23 and the screw threaded opening 29 is through the passage 30, which opens at 31 into the chamber 23 at a point above the horizontal plane of the opening 26 of the vent passage 25.

A passage 32 is provided between the lower wall of the chamber 23 and the edge of the downwardly turned flange 28, through which steam entering the trap in the direction of the arrow 33 passes from the chamber 22 into the chamber 23, and thence through the passage 30 is delivered from the trap in the direction of the arrow 34. A partial vacuum, in this case, is maintained in the chamber 23, but steam passes freely through the trap by means of the passage 32 until the water of condensation has closed the passage 32, when the vent passage 25 serves to equalize the pressure between the two chambers 22 and 23 until the water of condensation has accumulated sufiiciently to close the lower end 26 of the vent passage 25, when the increase in pressure in'the chamber 22 forces the water through the passage 30, and thence in the direction of the arrow 34 entirely out of the trap.

The two shells 20 and 21 are preferably 2 provided with beveled joints 35 and 36, and

are united together by means of the flanged coupling ring 37 forming a union to c011- nect the pipes whose screw threaded ends engage the internal screw threads 38 and 39. The coupling ring 37 in Fig. 2, and the coupling ring 5 in Fig. 1, are preferably provided with polygonal peripheries to re ceive a wrench, to enable the two parts of the trap to be drawn closely together, bringing their beveled joints 3 and 35 into close contact.

I claim,

1. A steam trap comprising a shell or case, having opposite admission and discharge openings, said shell or case having a partition transverse to said openings dividing the interior of said shell or case, with the pressure upon the discharge side of said partition arranged to be less than the pressure upon the admission side, said partition provided with passages for communication in difl'erent horizontal planes, but with one end of each passage arranged below the plane of said discharge opening, whereby said passages will be sealed successively by the water of condensation in said shell or case.

2. A steam trap having admission and discharge openings and comprising two cylindrical shells, means for holding said shells with their edges in contact, a plate attached to one of said shells, provided with passages for communication arranged in ditferent horizontal planes, with one end of each passage arranged below the plane of said discharge opening, whereby said passages will be sealed successively by the 'ater of condensation in said shells.

3. In a steam trap having admission and discharge openings, the combination of two members having opposing recessed faces, means for uniting said faces to form an inclosed chamber, a plate attached to one oi said members forming a partition in said chamber, with the pressure arranged to be reduced upon one side of said partition, said partition having an opening at the lower part of said chamber below the plane of the discharge opening from said chamber, and a passage near the center of said chamber, with one end of said passage also below the plane of said discharge opening.

4. A steam trap comprising two members of a union, arranged to connect steam pipes and inclosing a chamber between them, a plate attached to one of said members forming a partition in said chamber, provided with passages of communication ar ranged to be sealed in succession by the rise of the level of the water of condensation in said chamber above one end of the higher passage.

5. In a. steam trap, the combination of an inclosing shell or case forming a chamber and having admission and discharge open ings, said shell or case having a partition dividing the interior of said shell or ease, said partition provided with an opening at the bottom of said chamber, and an oblique passage above said opening, but with one end below the plane of said discharge opening.

6. In a steam trap having admission and discharge openings, the combination with two cylindrical members inclosing a chamber, one of said members having a screw threaded periphery, and a screw threaded clamping ring arranged to engage said screw threaded periphery, one of said members having a partition dividing said chamber provided with a direct opening and an oblique passage, said opening and passage arranged to be sealed in succession by the water of condensation in said chamber.

7 A steam trap comprising an inclosing shell or case, provided with opposite admission and discharge openings, said shell having a partition arranged to divide the interior of said shell into tWo chambers comin a plane above said opening, but with one lnnnlcatlng respectively W1th sald admlsslon end below the plane of sald dlscharge and dlscharge openings, with the pressure opening.

upon the discharge side of said partition ar- WVALTER 0. WHEELER. ranged to be reduced, and said partition pro- Witnesses: vided with an opening and a passage be- PENELOPE COMBERBAGH,

tween said chambers, said passage arranged RUFUS B. FOWLER. 

